According to the Governance of Britain Green Paper, their three key functions are to act as:
- Regional Leaders: working with members, officials and colleagues from all sectors to get beneath the headlines and into the detail of the problems facing the region – and to look for the solutions
- Government Champions: speaking at a number of key regional events to promote national policies, using these events also to explore how the region can draw on its experience to offer solutions back to Whitehall departments
- Regional Champions: working with colleagues within Whitehall to champion the needs of the region and to ensure that the region’s voice is heard – and to promote the region’s successes
There are a range of roles that Regional Ministers undertake, supported by the Government Offices for the Regions and also by the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). They are :
- to be a visible representative of their area
- to take a key role in bringing together local services and different arms of government at important times for the region
- to take questions in Parliament on the work of regional bodies and on regional strategies as part of the forthcoming regional select committee proposals
The Regional Ministers should also:
- advise the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the approval of regional strategies and appointment of RDA Chairs and Boards
- represent regional interests in the formulation of central government policy relevant to economic growth and sustainable development in areas that have not been devolved to the RDAs
- facilitate a joined up approach across government departments and agencies to enable the effective delivery of the single regional strategy
- champion the region at high level events and with regard to high profile projects (including through a programme of regional visits), and represent the region at relevant Parliamentary debates and hearings
